Trail Blazers at Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies delivered a series-opening blow and hope to return
with an uppercut when they host the Portland Trail Blazers in
Wednesday’s Game 2 of the first-round Western Conference series. Memphis
led by as many as 29 points while cruising to a 100-84 victory in Game 1
to defeat Portland for the fifth straight time this season.
The aftermath wasn’t much better for the Trail Blazers as their locker room motivation card became public and included the phrase “We don’t lose to Spanish players,” and Grizzlies star Marc Gasol, who is from Barcelona, Spain, was miffed about the meaning. “I don’t know where it comes from and I don’t know what it means,” Gasol told reporters. “I have better things to think about than what they’re writing on the wall.” Memphis’ domination in the opener marked its third double-digit victory over Portland this season and also handed the Trail Blazers their fifth straight loss overall dating back to the regular season. “Nobody is giving us a shot,” Portland point guard Damian Lillard told reporters. “Nobody is saying, ‘Portland is going to come in here and win the series.’ If anything, they’re doubting us.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, TNT, KGW (Portland), SportSouth (Memphis)
ABOUT THE TRAIL BLAZERS: Star power forward LaMarcus Aldridge scored 32 points in the opener but was just 13-of-34 shooting and Lillard also struggled with his shooting by going 5-of-21 for 14 points. “I don’t really feel like we laid an egg,” Lillard told reporters. “The effort was there. I think we were locked in to everything that we went over on film and they made shots.” Portland expects to have shooting guard Arron Afflalo available after a four-game absence due to a shoulder injury and that would be a welcome sight. C.J. McCollum drew the start in Game 1 and he was overmatched in his 37 minutes, scoring two points on 1-of-8 shooting.
ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES: Point guard Mike Conley played just 24 minutes in his return from a foot injury and reserve Beno Udrih picked up the slack with a solid Game 1 performance. Udrih scored 20 points - a personal best for a playoff game – on 9-of-14 shooting to go with seven rebounds and seven assists in a stunning all-around performance. “Beno gets the game ball,” teammate Zach Randolph told reporters. “With Mike being out, it helps him get his confidence up and playing.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Lillard missed all six of his 3-point attempts in the opener and the Trail Blazers were 8-of-26 as a team.
2. Grizzlies defensive stalwart Tony Allen (hamstring) played for the first time since March 27 and had three steals.
3. Portland shot 33.7 percent in Game 1, its worst in the postseason since shooting 24.7 percent during a Game 3 loss to the San Antonio Spurs in the 1999 Western Conference finals.